The Labour party already has enough trouble keeping within the guidelines set out by the Electoral Act, but now they want to get an extra day which they will no doubt use to continue flouting and breaching the Electoral Act safe in the knowledge that the Police won’t ever prosecute:

The Labour Party wants a ban on electioneering on election day to be scrapped, saying it was “puritanical” and “from a bygone era.”

Labour’s General Secretary, Chris Flatt, told the justice and electoral select committee it was time for the ban to be reviewed and there was no logical reason for all election advertising to disappear by midnight the night before.

He said provided there were laws to prevent intimidation of voters, there was no reason why electioneering should not be allowed on election day as was permitted in Australia and several European countries.

“The puritanical view in New Zealand could be reviewed, especially in light of the number of people who make up their mind to vote in the last week of the election campaign, and the 12 per cent who make up their minds on the day itself.”

However, Chief Electoral Officer Rob Peden told the committee that it had been part of the political culture since the late 1800s.

“New Zealanders may not be experts on many aspects of electoral administration but one thing most know is that you can’t electioneer on the day.”